Transfer chute for connection between dry cleaning and solvent recovery machines



Nov. 17, 1953 A. M. DUNCAN 2,659,224

TRANSFER CHUTE FOR CONNECTION BETWEEN DRY CLEANING AND SOLVENT RECOVERYMACHINES Filed April 18. 1950 Patented Nov. 17, 1953 TRANSFER CHUTE FORCONNECTION BE- .TWEEN DRY CLEANING AND SOLVENT RECOVERY MACHINES ArlisM. Duncan, Pasadena, Calif. Application April 18, 1950, Serial No.156,661

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a sanitary transfer chute for dry cleaningmachines and it is an object of the invention to provide means fortransferring clothing from one machine to another as required in drycleaning establishments whereby is substantially eliminated any firehazard and the operator protected from fumes which may emanate from theclothing during the transfer.

At present, many dry cleaning establishments have a' large machine intowhich clothing to be cleaned is placed and which tumbles said clothingwhile at the same time bathing it in a dry cleaning solvent. Immediatelynext to this cleaning machine is a machine of substantially similar sizeinto which the clothing removed from the previously described machine isplaced. In this second machine, the clothing is again tumbled in orderto remove all traces of the dry cleaning solvent. This latter machinealso reclaims this solvent for reuse in the first machine. When thefirst machine has cleaned the clothing a door in front of the machine isopened, and a worker lifts out the clothing, carries it to the secondmachine and. places it there within. By this method several hazardsexist, outstandingly fire, since the solvent is inflammable and thesolvent when inhaled to excess is injurious to the worker. It is afurther object of the invention to provide a transfer chute so arrangedto substantially eliminate these risks or disadvantages.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved sanitarytransfer chute for dry cleaning machines whereby certain advantages areattained, as will hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceedto describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary view in front elevation illustrating inapplied position a transfer chute embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in top plan of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 3--3of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4of Figure 2.

In the accompanying drawings, I denotes a dry cleaning machine of ageneral type now in use and 2 a conventional dry cleaning solventrecovery machine. These machines are placed side by side and in closeproximity to each other to permit the use therewith of the transferchute C.

The chute C at one end portion thereof is provided in its inner sidewall 3 with an opening 4 of area to permit the outwardly disposedflanges 5 defining the opening 4 to completely surround the outwardlyopening door 6 for the removal opening 1 in the front wall 8 of thecleaning machine I. The outer or freemargins of the flanges 5 aredefined by the laterally disposed lips 9 which are bolted or otherwisesecurely anchored to the wall 8 of the machine I.

The opposite end portion of the inner wall3 of the chute C has closecontact with a side wall I I! of the recovery machine 2. This wall I I]is provided with a discharge opening I I with which coacts the usualoutwardly swinging door I2 and which opening II is materially lower thanthe opening 1. This opening I I in the wall III of the machine 2registers with an opening I4 in the inner wall 3 of the chute C of asize to extend entirely around the opening I I of the door I2. Theportion of the wall 3 above and below the opening I4 are securelyanchored, as at I5, to the wall Ill.

The opposite ends of the chute C are closed and the end wall I6 adjacentto the opening I 4 is provided along its inner vertical margin with anoutwardly disposed flange I'I anchored to the wall II! of the machine 2.

The outer side wall I8 of the chute C is provided with an opening l9opposed to the opening 4 and of substantially the configuration anddimensions as the opening 4 and through which may readily pass the freeend portion of the door 6 when swung outward into open position to allowaccess through the chute C t o the opening I so that the workman maywithdraw the clothing from the machine I.

At the opposite end portion of the opening III are the verticallydisposed guide elements 20 for the sliding door 2I. These elements 20extend above the chute C a distance sufiicient to allow the door 2| tobe raised entirely above the opening I 9. To facilitate the desiredopening and closing of the door 2| the outer face thereof at the centerof the door 2| is provided with a hand grasp 22 of any desired type.

The outer wall I8 of the chute C is provided with a second opening 23opposed to the opening I I. This opening 23 is of such configuration anddimensions to allow ready access to the opening I4 and to permit thedesired outward opening movement of the door I2. Adjacent to the ends ofthe opening 23 are the guide elements 24 which, like the guide elements20, are anchored to the outer side wall I 8 of the chute C. These guideelements also extend above the chute C and have associated therewith thesliding door 25. The door 25 when in its fully opened position isentirely above the opening 23 and to facilitate the raising and loweringthe door 25, the central portion thereof is provided with a hand grasp26 of a conventional type.

The end' wall i tot thic-chute?) closely adjacent to the bottomwallllfiisprovided witha' relatively small discharge opening 28 fromwhich leads an upwardly disposed flue pipe 29 leading to an exe: 1o?vhaust fan 30 shown in Figure 1 of the drawings positioned on the top oftheznachineif Clothing to be cleaned customarily isagitatedl in aso-called dry cleaning solvent. Many of the solvents used are volatileand toxic to humans;

Also many of the solvents used are combustible. At present clothing thathas been cleaned is removed from the cleaner by an individnaLwhm carriesit to a machine that recovers the solvent yetvwithinithe clothing;and-placestheclothing therein." This-process isltime consuming, danegerous to the healthlof the operator. andlin many cases 1 presents anever present fire hazard. r By means ofthepresent invention, theclothingis pulledout-of the cleaning. machine I into the g5 chute-C which havingits bottom wall .2] inclined downwardly tothe. solvent recovery machine.2 permits: the clothingto be veryreadily slid-thereupon. The customarycleaning. solventeven when in a gaseous form is heavier than. air.Therefore the tendency isfor the solvent toseek the-lowest level; Byproviding a mechanical exhaust by the. fan 3D,.out through the fiue. 2Bthesefumes are readily dischargedto the atmosphere, preferahlyoutsider-of the cleaning establishment'.

From the foregoing? description .it-is thought to be obvious thatan=improved sanitary transfer chute fondr y cleaning machinesconstructedcin accordance with my invention is particularly well adaptedfor use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may beassembled and operated.

I claim:

1. In a laundering apparatus, including a dry cleaning: machine and asolvent recovery machine, anielongated chntewlosediatits.,ends andhaving an opening in a side wall adjacent one of? its ends incommunication with the door openingof the dry cleaning machine and asecond opening-.the said side wall adjacent itsother.'endtinzcommunication with the door opening of'thesolvent'recovery machine, said chute sloping'downwardly from the firstdoor opening to the second door: opening, a flue pipe leading outwardlyand'upwardly from the said other end of=thecchute immediately adjacentto the bottom thereof to atmosphereyand a power operated suctionranconnected said fluepipe; for; exhausting fumes from. within saidchute,

2. The invention as definedin claim 1,,w itli other openings inthenopposite. side wallrofrsaid chuteein :line with the .fi'rst namedopenings, and a closure for each oithe said;.other openings.

ARLIS, M. DUNCAN,

References- Gited in the-file of this -patent UNITED- STATES PATENTSNumber Name: Date:

2,053,677 Ollison .Sept.8;a 1936 2,103,131 Wolf Dec. 21, 193.72,-3132'25 Davis Mar=-9-,,1943 2368;916 Drum: Eeb;,6;,19Afi FOREIGNPATENTS" Number Country Date 548,709 Germany, .Apr. 18,1932 405,395GreatBritain- ..Eeb.- 8, 193i

